A definitive cause of death cannot be established for a tiny baby whose body was discovered in a Shropshire river, an inquest has ruled.

South Shropshire coroner Anthony Sibcy recorded an open verdict yesterday because he could not be sure how baby Keira Boddey died last November.

Her body was discovered in a bin liner with a sandbag in it in the River Teme in Ludlow last November 5, the inquest at Ludlow Magistrates Court heard.

In police interviews the child’s mother, Claire Morris, 19, told how she secretly gave birth alone in the bath at her boyfriend’s parents’ home in Dahn Drive, Ludlow, last November 2. His family has since moved to Brimfield.

She said she and boyfriend Adam Boddey, 18, were too scared to tell anyone that she was pregnant.

Miss Morris realised as soon as she gave birth that the baby was not breathing. She said: “I got the baby and felt its chest and rubbed its chest. I thought it was something to do with the umbilical cord and if I cut that it would start breathing.”

The inquest heard the young couple panicked and hid the baby’s body in Mr Boddey’s bedroom.

After giving birth Miss Morris, of Newcastle-on-Clun, was admitted to the Royal Shrewsbury Hospital on November 3 with life- threatening complications.

Hospital staff were told she had had a medical termination that summer, but when she delivered a full-term placenta they realised there was a missing baby.

In evidence, Miss Morris said: “I would have put it up for adoption but looking back now I could never have given the baby up.”

She said she discovered that Mr Boddey had put the baby in the river after doctors asked the couple where the infant’s body was.

Pathologist Dr James Lucas said the cause of death was unascertained.

Miss Morris and Mr Boddey were both arrested following the discovery on suspicion of concealing a birth, although no criminal charges were brought, the inquest heard.

By Sophie Bignall